DPAC are going to be putting in a response to the consultation on the future of ESA, announced by Damien Green last week.
We’re planning to inject some realism into a consultation which will be dominated by interest groups such as workfare providers and corporate charities that have a vested interest in making money out of the government’s plans.
We will be submitting a lot of factual information but we also would like to submit the testimonies of people who will be affected by the outcome of these changes, particularly people who for very valid reasons, simply cannot work.
So please if you are on ESA and cannot work, please fill in the form below and tell us why you cannot work. That will enable us to provide evidence that the government plans for ESA will not work and will cause further harm to claimants
I’ve been on phone to PiP and found out the person that deals with Parkinson’s claims, Is just a mental health professional and does not get in touch with real Parkinson’s doctors,,, What i said jane has parkison’s, she is not depressed get me you’re manager,, , the conversation went for an hour,, that man had no right looking into a 40 page document about Parkinson’s Disease when he should be looking at people with mental health issues… they said they where going to look into this,, after i gave them some facts about Parkinsons,,, and said i have more qualifications than that incompetent twat, that man needs to stand in front of a judge and let me ask you’re mental heath officer some serious questions about Parkinson’s, i have 9 year experience,,,So another so called professional will be looking into the document again, good i said, do let me know what medical qualifications they have to understand parkinson’s, has i do believe it may take over 10 years to become a qualified neurological professional, not 2 years to become a mental health worker,,, back on phone tomorrow,,, grrrrrrrrrrrr,,,,
I was declared fit for work in November the response letter was no factual. It was packed with many lies. I have longstanding scoliosis and is being tested for MS amongst other things.
They need to be understanding for the long nhs diagnosis time caused by their cuts.
The conversation s should be recorded to ensure transparency
We hope our reply highlights the variety of needs that people have the lack of real understanding n ability to adapt workplaces to accommodate those with complex needs
Can’t submit form as I’ve been taken off ESA lost my appeal,told to get a zimmer frame to try and find a job, also a light factory job would be suitable. Have these people ever worked in a factory? There is no such thing as a light factory job. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis,spine,hips ,knees, hands and now in feet and toes. No one will ever give me a job,I’ve tried, but these people won’t listen, I’m 61 no state pension till I’m 66. No jibseekers allowance as I’m married!
Pam, please go to your local Citizen Advice. I have fibromyalgia and they helped me complete all the forms, get through reconcideration, and to be placed in the support group. Unfortunately it would appear they way your answers are worded is extremely important; something that fibro fog doesn’t help with!!
That’s ridiculous. They give factory jobs to the young and anyway. They don’t want 61 year olds with disabilities when they’ve got the pick of healthy Young people. It’s just an excuse to cut your benefits to poverty levels. Just keep appealing. I know it’s stressful.
I suffer from several disabilities including a spinal injury, tinnitus and deafness, much of which caused by manual work in heavy industry when I was a teenager, the reason I worked in such an industry is the education system failed to understand that I was dyslexic until I was on the second year of a degree course in computing as a mature student at the age of 35 as I tried to retrain myself again, I have since had several mental breakdowns due to going into teaching.
It’s not just employment that needs reforming, health and education need a complete overhaul as well as they are all interlinked, even if the government doesn’t understand this because of their incomplete education…
I have submitted my form, not in the hope it changes anything, but in support of DPAC at least fighting this hated government as much as we can manage which the government knows is not much, we’re disabled ffs.
I had blood sepsis in 2014 and 5 operations I can’t do anything without crutches. Then had septic arthritis and had to have my hip removed. I was failed on mobility and only get lower rate. I can’t even get a bus pass. Can’t even carry food to my room. Like simple things. It’s annoying.
I just submitted my form, I hope it helps. I’m restricted to bed most of the time (I get up for a short period once or twice per month), how am i supposed to go out to work, much as I’d love to do so. That’s the point Mr Green and Co don’t seem to get – many disabled people would love to be able to go out to work and support our own families, our impairments make this extremely difficult if not impossibe. It’s not a case of WON’T work, its a case of CAN’T wok, much as we’d love to.
Form submitted. I hope it may be of some use. Best of luck,
Chris Chaney
Have submitted my form hope its of help.
I have 5 complex health conditions which make it impossible for me to function very well at all. I can do very little during the course of the day. My mobility is effected as well as living with whole body neuropathic pain and EDS, POTS and MCAD. I have a full-time carer. If I am subjected to more upsets and pressure, it will further disable me. I cannot do any work at all.
Form submitted. Hope it’s of some use.
Good luck to all of you out there, who are being subjected to the inhumane DWP policies.
Keep the faith and together we can bring about change
Richard
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/mental-health-disability-benefit-assessments
The future of ESA ~ that’s a good one… the current regime seeks to redefine disability as non-existent ~ just part of the new world order’s crisis response to losing its grip. We must not let it.
Hello Bob,
I have been subjected to terrible Hate Crime. I cannot speculate on why. What I do know is that I am a walking disabled person and/or my partner who does not even live in this town is a Black man. I live alone.
I was put on ESA in place of sick pay just before a Transfer of Undertakings. I then had a brief period of acute depression (I am nearly 62). I then received hate letters in my post box. I reported this to the police, they deemed it anti-social behaviour by an unknown. I then had a growth in my throat. After a number of biopsies I had a tumour removed. I also have to attend the maxillo facial unit in Preston on a regular basis as the result of bone cancer. I am on anti-depressants, I then had a slipped disc probably due to the stress. I do physiotherapy at home to alleviate this coupled with basic pain killers.
This year I went for another Work Capability Assessment. I was simply telephoned to say that I was fit for work, I always deemed myself fit for work with support. Anyway I was transferred onto UC and was allowed to look for work at about 16 or so hours per week as I also do some voluntary work. I have found a job to fit around my impairment.
At 61 nearly 62 I do believe it to be virtually impossible to find a job that is not in the zero hours arena when you say you are a Disabled person.
The Government has taken the work of previous disability organisations and wiped the floor with us. It is possible for disabled people to work IF THEY CAN WORK, with appropriate support which doesn’t entail being treated like a shirker with a ‘lifestyle’ of the workhouse.
Good luck with your consultation.
There used to be schemes that enabled the sick and severely disabled to try themselves out re. working. They received ‘Therapeutic’ earnings and if they could not sustain working over a long-term or any period of time, they could go back on benefit straightaway. What happened to these schemes that were genuinely set up to help people into work, build their confidence and be treated in a civilised way!
I know what happened to them really- they did not fit the current system that is punitive and out to drive wages down and cut the costs of welfare. These b******stds at the top are without any humanity or compassion. Once you are no longer productive ( in their terms) you count for nothing and expect to be harassed and demonised .
I wholeheartedly agree with Viv Thomas remark, I struggle with daily living too. There needs to be a point beyond which it is unreasonable and cruel to require people to work, though everyone however severely disabled should have a right to reasonable support to work if they choose to. This is often seen by Conservatives as a contradiction but it is not. How much a person can bear is an entirely individual thing. If the struggle outweighs the reward then it is unreasonable and cruel to force disabled people to work. If a government fails to assist those with disabilities it fails in its duty of care and is uncivilised.
Thank you DPAC for all that you do, and for giving me the opportunity to add my ‘voice’. I have just submitted the following to your response to the DWP consultation:
“My message to Mr Green…… I am not “sitting around on benefits” – I am struggling to survive! I am 53 years old, and suffer from multiple – long term – mental illnesses, (depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, social phobia, PTSD, panic attacks), and receive ESA and housing benefit and partial council tax benefit – I have to pay some from my ESA. I am just ‘hanging on’ as it is – especially with all the added stress and worry that has been forced on me by this govt./DWP. I realise that you may find it difficult to understand the position that I am in, and know that you have never been terrified to hear the post arriving in case it’s a DWP letter; or been scared about what others think of you because of hateful propaganda against anyone with illnesses/disabilities; you’ll have never felt that there is nothing left for you as you are made to feel like a burden on society/useless; you will never have had to worry from day to day about bills, food, clothing, housing etc; you will never have to worry about whether or not there is enough funding to enable you to receive the help and support that you need. Mr Green, all of the afore-mentioned are what I – and many others like me – have to live with each day already – some much worse than myself, I know. Please do not make it any worse by further cuts. I am fortunate enough to have a good GP who does home visits if I need them; have my medications delivered as my agoraphobia prevents me from going to the Chemist, (I live alone and do not have any family that could do this for me); I also currently receive psychological therapy/support for a few hours each week at home – for which I waited a long time, but am so grateful that I have now. Please find the money from elsewhere. Surely the vulnerable in this country have been ‘hit’ and ‘hurt’ enough! Why not collect the taxes from huge companies are not paying anything at all; or ‘cut’ from the 1% in the UK that ‘can’ afford to bear it? If there is even a scrap of compassion within you and your govt., then you won’t cut from the vulnerable in society any more….. I despair….”
Unfortunately, I do not hold out much hope that Mr Green/DWP will actually take any notice, but, believe that we must continue to try and be ‘heard’……
Hi Viv
Thank you for sending us the information. I will add your information to your submission 🙂
Bob
Just submitted your form for DWP & forgot to include Memory Loss . Plus all the side effects of my heavy duty analgesia.
PS Iam not sitting about on benefits. Iam struggling with daily living. Mr Green !